Holder for screws



Feb. 20, 1940. E DAHLQUIST HOLDER FOR SCREWS Filed July 13, 1938 m1 fmm ZEU w f u I I u E w n T E ATTORN EYS.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 1. UNITED STATES apron HOLDER FOR SCREWS Ernest L. Dahlquist, Auburn, Iowa Application July 13, 1938,,Serial No. 219,060

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tool especially designed for use in holding and placing small elements such as screws, small nails,bolts, etc.

The primary object of the invention is to provide'a noveltool of this character which may be economically formed from sheet metal strips and embodying novel features of construction for retaining the parts in assembled relation,

A further object is to provide a tool of this character which may be easily operated by one.

A still further object resides in the novel means for varying the tension upon the jaw operating spring to vary the degree of gripping of the jaws.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 25 will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which drawing- Figure l is a perspective view of the improved tool.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool, with a portion at the handle end in section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section thru the tool, with the jaw end in side elevation.

35 Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view part in plan and part in section, and showing an element held in the jaws.

Figures 5, (Sand 7 are transverse sections on the respective lines in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing in detail and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the tool com prises a main body member ii) and a movable or sliding member [2 having guided movement longitudinally of the member Iii.

The body member it formed from a length of strip metal which is bent or doubled transversely upon itsel; adjacent its rear end as at it to provide a iJ--shaped socket having the end wall 0 i5. The returned portion M as shown spaced slightly from shank main portion l l of the body member for a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of the sliding member ill. The forward end portion of the body member Bil is notched out at one side edge as at it for one-half the width of the body member, providing a stationary jaw ll which is upwardly oilfset by an angular portion it out of the plane of the intermediate main portion H for a distance equal to one-half the thickness of the body member as shown in Figures 3 and 7. The working faceor edge of the stationary jaw ll isprovided with a small notch 19 to adapt the jaw to better hold ing of small elements placed in the tool.

Referring'now to the sliding member l2, the same is also formed from a length of strip metal similar to that of the body member Ill and is adapted to slide longitudinally upon the upper. surface of the body member. The rear end of the sliding member it extends beneath the returned portion is and is bifurcated as shown in Figure 4, providing a terminally opening slot 20 between a pair of side arms 29. Provided adjacent the forward end ,of the member I2 is a longitudinal guide slot 22 which receives a headed guide pin or rivet 23 fixed in the body member Bil. This pin and slot connection aside from permitting relative longitudinal movement between the members it and i2, also serves to retain the forward portion of thefsliding member against lateral movement with respect to thebody member. The forward end portion of the sliding member I? is cut away atone side for one-half the widthof. the sliding member, providing a movable jaw M which is downwardly offset by an angular portion 25 out of the plane of the main portion E3 of the slidingmember so as to extend into the notch l6 co-planar with the jaw ll. As shown in Figure 4-, the working face or edge of the movable jaw M is cut at an angle and extends inwardly and rearwardly from the outer edge of the jaw. With this arrangement of angular working edge, when screws or bolts held between the jaws are being turned, they will be prevented from working or rolling out from between the jaws as will be readily apparent from the showing in Figure 4.

The slidingmember i2 is normally spring urged forwardly on the main body member it by means i of a coil spring 25 whereby the movable jaw M is normally urged against the stationary jaw i'i' as shown in Figure 2. l l

Formed in the rear end ofthe main portion II is an outwardly pressed rib 2'! providing a longitudinal depression or groove 28 at. the inner side of the portion of substantially semi-cylindrical shape in cross section and extending to the end wall It. The returned portion I4 is also formed with an outwardly pressed rib 29 providing a longitudinal depression or groove 30 at the inner side of the portion of substantially semi-cylindrical shape in cross section as shown in Figures 5 and 6. These confronting longitudinal grooves 28 and 30 receive diametrically opposite portions of the coil spring 26 and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the spring is held against lateral movement thru seating in the grooves. The forward end of the coil spring extends into the slot 20 between the arms 2i and acts upon the sliding member l2 to normally urge the member forwardly. Thus, by bifurcating the end of the sliding member i2 to receive the coil spring 26, the

spring also functions to retain the sliding memberagainst lateral movement with respect to the main body member Ill.

Means is provided for tensioning the coil spring 26 and this means preferably comprises a disc member 32 fitting in the grooves 28 and 30, and provided with diametrically arranged lugs 33 which extend beyond the grooves into the space between the portions H and M for preventing rotation of the disc member.

screw. The rear end of the coil spring 26 seats against the disc member 32 so that upon movement of. the disc member by means of the tensioning screw 35, the tension on the spring may be adjusted so as to vary the gripping force of the jaws H and 24. If desired, the tensioning means may be omitted and the rear end of the coil spring 26 permitted to seat against the end wall 15.

The sliding member 12 is provided adjacent its rear portion with an upstanding thumb piece 40 formed by crimping the metal into a fold or ridge.

In use, the operator grasps the tool in one hand with the end l5 resting against a suitable portion of the hand. andplaces the thumb upon the projection or thumb piece 4!]. By exerting a slight rearwardpressure on the thumb piece against the tension of the coil spring 26, the jaw 24 will be moved away from the jaw I! to permit a screw or other element being placed between the jaws. Pressure may now be released on the thumb piece and whereuponthe coil spring 26 will cause the sliding member l2 to be moved forwardly on the main body member ID and yieldably gripthe screw between the jaws I1 and 24. 1

Changes in detail may be made to the form of the invention as herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: i

1. A tool of the class described, comprising a main body member of strip metal formed at one end into a socket and having a flat stationary jaw at its opposite end, a sliding member of strip metal having a longitudinallyslotted end fitting in the socket and having a flat jaw at its opposite end co-acting with said stationary jaw, means guiding the sliding member for longitudinal movement on one face of the main body member, and a coil spring in said socket and received in the slotted end of the sliding mem- 2. In a tool of the class described, a main body member having a returned portion at its rear end forming a. forwardly opening socket and having a stationary jaw at its forward end, a coil spring retained in the socket, a sliding member having a forked rear end providing arms extending at each side of the coil spring and having a jaw at its forward end normally urged toward the stationary jaw by the coil spring, and guide means for retaining the forward portion of the sliding member against lateral movement with respect to the main body member.

3. In a tool of the class described, a main body member having a socket at one end provided with confronting longitudinal grooves and at its opposite end with a stationary jaw, a coil spring fitting in said grooves, a sliding member having a slot at one end receiving the coil spring and forming arms extending at each side of the spring, a jaw at the opposite end of the sliding member and normally urged toward the stationary jaw by the coil spring, and a pin and slot connection between the main body member and sliding member adjacent the jaw carrying 'ends thereof.

4. In atool of the class described, a main body member having a socket at one end provided with confronting longitudinal grooves and at its opposite end with a stationary jaw, a coil spring fitting in said grooves, a sliding member having a slotat one end receiving the coil spring and forming arms extending at each side of the pring, a jaw at the opposite end of the sliding member and normally urged toward the stationary jaw by the coil spring, means for varying the tension on the coil spring and a pin and slot connection between the main body member and sliding member adjacent the jaw carrying ends thereof.

5. In a tool of the class described, a main body member formed from strip metal and providing a socket at its'rear end and a stationary law at its forward end, a sliding member formed from strip metal and having a forked rear end fitting in said socket and a jaw at its forward end co-acting with the stationary jaw, a coil spring retained against lateral movement in'the socket and engaging in the forked end of the sliding member for normally urging the sliding member forwardly on the main body member, a pin and slot connection between the forward portions of said members, and a thumb piece formed on the sliding member for moving the same rearward against the tension of the spring.

6. In a tool of the class described, a main body member of strip metal having a notch in one side edge providing a rearwardly facing jaw, a sliding member of strip metal movable longitudinally on the body member and cut away a turned upon itself forming a socket and provided at its opposite end with a jaw, confronting semi-cylindrical shaped grooves formed in the socket, a coil spring fitting in said grooves, a strip metal sliding member having a slot at one end receiving the coil spring and providing a pair of arms extending along opposite sides of the spring, and having a jaw at its opposite end normally urged against the first mentioned jaw by said coil spring, a pin and slot connection between the forward portions of said mema tensioning member held against rota-- tion in the socket and forming a seat for one end of the coil spring, and means for adjusting the tensioning member for varying the tension the coil spring.

8. In a tool of the class described, a strip metal body member notched out at one edge adjacent its forward end to form a jaw, said J'aw being offset out of the plane of the body member for a distance equal to one-half the thickness of the member, a strip metal sliding member longitudinally movable on the body member and cut away at one edge and at its forward end to form a jaw, said last mentioned jaw being ofiset into said notch. in co-planar relation to the first mentioned jaw, and means normaliy urging the siiding member forwardly on the body member.

9. In a tool of the class described, a body member formed oistrip metal and having a rearwardiy facing jaw at its forward end, a sliding member formed of strip metal and having a forwardly facing jaw at its forward end confronting the jaw of the body member, a pin and slot connection between the forward portions of the members, a socket formed at the rear end of the body member, and a coil spring in the socket and normally urging the sliding member forwardly on the body member.

ERNEST L. DAI-ILQUIST. 

